St. Helens

The religious profile of St. Helens changed substantially in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of St. Helens fell by 0.9%, from just under 177,000 to 175,000.

The loss of almost 2,000 people means this area's population decreased by 0.9% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, St. Helens was home to, on average, 9.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw the North West's largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Across the region, Fylde saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.4% to 2.8%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) in St. Helens reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in St. Helens remained close to 3.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and St. Helens by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the North West's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Eden (from 10% to 9.3%) and Salford (from 10% to 9.2%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in St. Helens had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 32% to 29%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in St. Helens

The number of people in St. Helens that described themselves as Christian increased from about 150,000 in 2001 to about 140,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 87% to 79% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in St. Helens that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 11,000 in 2001 to about 26,000 in 2011 (from 6.3% to 15%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 11,000 to about 9,600 (from 6.2% to 5.5%).

Just under 610 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 350 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in St. Helens decreased by 8.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and St. Helens by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in St. Helens that rented privately increased from 4.4% to 10% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in five (21%) households lived in social housing, compared with 24% in 2001. The percentage of St. Helens households that owner their home decreased from 69% to 67%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in St. Helens increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in St. Helens, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of St. Helens residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13% to 8.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of St. Helens residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in St. Helens decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in St. Helens, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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